Pump Issues

Kronk · #1 02-16-2010, 04:51 AM

I bought a used Gen-X PCX-40 pump and hooked it up as my closed loop pump the other day. Its rather loud but the main issue is the ridiculous amount of micro bubbles its producing. I left it running for a few days thinking that maybe there was just some bubbles in the lines or it needs to break in somehow. I am confident there are no air leaks in the plumbing as I left it off for several hours and did not detect the any moisture around the fittings.

Only thing I can think is that the seal on the pump is failing and its sucking in air right in the housing. But apparently the pump has a seal less design... I am really lost on this one. Any ideas on what might be causing the bubbles ?

Thanks,
Ken

superduperwesman · #2 02-16-2010, 05:23 AM

The air has got to be coming in somewhere?

tlo · #3 02-16-2010, 05:29 AM

cavetation(sp) ?
do you have any elbows close to the intake?

Kronk · #4 02-18-2010, 03:32 AM

I glued all the PVC together and fit the softpipe section onto the barbs with a heat gun and ty-wraps. Any easy ways to check for air leaks? I left the pump off for a few hours and there was no moisture on any of the connections.

I do have a 90 right off the end of the pump for the intake but how would this allow air into the lines?

I am starting to think its the pump... it is pretty old by the looks of it and they sell new O rings online so I am thinking that O ring is a seal that keeps the air out which is failing. It would be a bummer if it was the pump cause its the second one I have bought for this tank. The first was a Q1 3000 which was way underpowered. Might get a Q1 6000 if I cant find a fix in the next week or so, JL has it onsale.

sphelps · #5 02-18-2010, 03:37 AM

Not likely but it could just be the plumbing, the pressure drop on the pump input might be too low which could in theory liberate dissolved gasses. To test for this try restricting the output and see if the bubbles stop.

golf nut · #6 02-18-2010, 04:08 AM

pictures speak... do you have any?

Kronk · #7 02-18-2010, 04:25 AM

The ty-wraps look a little ghetto but I tried to tighten up the connetions in desparation...

golf nut · #8 02-18-2010, 04:30 AM

How are to taking water from the tank?

Kronk · #9 02-18-2010, 05:03 AM

There is a 1" bulkhead behind the rocks that feeds the closed loop pump. And 2 outputs from the closed loop pump.

The bubbles are definately coming from the closed loop and not the sump pump.

golf nut · #10 02-18-2010, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kronk

There is a 1" bulkhead behind the rocks that feeds the closed loop pump. And 2 outputs from the closed loop pump.

The bubbles are definately coming from the closed loop and not the sump pump.

Assuming that the line was primed properly and there isn't air sitting someplace occasionally being dragged into the pump, you might want to try plugging the C/L returns and then while under pressure the leak might reveal itself.